Tag Archives: Traveling with children

Quick Travel Games for Rest Stops

When you are traveling by car, interstate rest stops are a great place to take a bit of break. I know it’s tempting to send everyone in for a quick trip to the bathroom and then herd them quickly back into the car. And there are times when we’ve done just that. But taking a ten minute break, or even five minutes, can help everyone’s mood. And don’t just stand around the car, the idea is to get everyone moving. The first activity is trash tossing. I learned this travel hint on a three day field trip. The teacher stood … Continue reading →

Summer Travel Tip: Never Leave Children Unattended in a Car

It’s a lesson a father living in my city learned the hard way. The man left his 2-year-old daughter sleeping in his locked alarmed car while he ran into Wal-Mart to pick up a spare battery. When he returned to his vehicle his daughter was awake and two police officers were waiting to arrest him for child endangerment. That dad was lucky. Seriously. While I’m sure he wasn’t pleased about being hauled off by police, he is lucky his daughter is still alive. Had the temperature outside been higher his toddler would have suffered much more than just emotional trauma … Continue reading →

How Do You NOT Know When Your Child has Gone Missing at an Airport?

A real life version of the big screen hit “Home Alone” took place in Canada on Monday and despite hearing the story multiple times I still don’t see how a 23-month-old boy could be “inadvertently” left behind in a gigantic airport. So here’s the deal: According to The Vancouver Sun, a family immigrating to Canada from the Philippines claims the mix-up occurred during a last minute scramble to a catch their plane. Jun Parreno, the boy’s father, told the paper he, his wife and the tot’s two grandparents were desperately trying to make their connecting flight from Vancouver to Winnipeg … Continue reading →

Kid-Friendly Hotels Getting Friendlier

Toys and goldfish delivered to your room, goodie bags at check-in, kid suites, and baby sitting services—now that’s my kind of hotel. Hotel chains such as Embassy Suites and Omni, which consistently rate well with business travelers, are stepping up efforts to please pint-sized guests–just in time for the busy summer travel season. In fact, Embassy Suites (which is a Hilton-owned chain) recently launched a children-only website — embassykids.com — where kids can build their own online drinks and omelets and print out packing lists and coloring sheets. Meanwhile, Omni Hotels has started giving out free backpacks with small toys … Continue reading →

Dream Trips for Kids (and Their Parents)

My 3-year-old knows exactly what she plans to be when she grows up: absolutely, positively, without a shred of doubt she plans to dedicate her life to helping animals as a veterinarian. (Her 44-year-old uncle, on the other hand, is still “researching” his career options.) My daughter’s love for all things four-legged and furry (or scaly and slithery) is what led me to this incredible travel find. She might not meet the age criteria just yet, but when she does this trip will no doubt be put on the top of our vacation destination list. The other travel package I’ve … Continue reading →

Ship It

If your kids can’t seem to get enough of Nickelodeon then here’s some good news. Get your calendars and Sharpies out because this summer, SpongeBob SquarePants and his pals are teaming up with Royal Caribbean to host the inaugural Nickelodeon Family Cruise. The ship departs Miami on August 10th and sets sail for the Western Caribbean and seven days of “sun, surf and slime.” The 4,000-plus-passenger Freedom of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s largest and newest vessels, according to the company’s website. And it would have to be massive given that it is home to a veritable amusement … Continue reading →

The One Thing You DON’T Want To See On An Airplane

“Mommy, these microphones don’t work!” my 3-year-old daughter exclaimed as she ripped off a pair of oversized airline-supplied headphones in disgust during our most recent flight to Hawaii. Note to self: Pack kid-sized headphones for next airplane ride. “Alvin and the Chipmunks” was the in-flight movie selection for this particular leg of our journey and my daughter couldn’t have been more thrilled. “Hurry Mommy hurry!” she cried as I hastily tried to make adjustments to the plane’s complimentary (see: cheap) headphones. “I’m missing Theodore eat his waffles.” “You can see Theodore eat his waffles right on the screen,” I replied. … Continue reading →

More Must-Have Items to Pack When Traveling with Children

Yesterday I raved about a cheap toy that is essential to have when visiting the beach with young children. The 99-cent rubber duck was a priceless commodity on our family’s recent trip to Hawaii. So what other basic, but often overlooked items should you also consider packing before you head off on your next family trip? Take a look: INFLATABLE TOYS Not only are they affordable, but they are also a cinch to pack. What’s more, if they get played with a half dozen times you’ve probably got your money’s worth and you won’t feel bad leaving them behind before … Continue reading →

Have Duck Will Travel

Who knew a 99-cent rubber duck could be such a valuable part of a family vacation? We just returned from Hawaii and are still readjusting to life minus the sun, sand and surf. (Going from 85 degrees to a high of 10 is enough to shock anyone’s system.) As always my 3-year-old daughter had a blast spending time with grandma and grandpa, “other-side grandma” (my grandmother), her uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. And, of course, my little fish could not get enough of the beach. She loves jumping over the waves, swimming in the whitewash, and practicing her dance moves … Continue reading →

Family Lanes at Airport Screening Areas

I frequently make use of the family lanes offered at my local supermarket so when I heard the Transportation Security Administration was experimenting with screening lanes designed specifically for families with children I was anxious to learn more. Heck, as far as I am concerned any parent who has struggled with juggling multiple tots and totes while navigating airport security areas should be interested in the new program. According to TSA security officials, the idea for the family lanes is to ease the pressure on parents journeying through an airport with young children. In airports around the world parents with … Continue reading →